WFP And Partners Support West Bank Flood Victims

14 January 2013

Many people had their homes completely destroyed by the floods. (Copyright: WFP/Quique Kierszenbaum)

After a massive snow storm swept through the State of Palestine, WFP and its partners were immediately on the ground in affected communities assessing the damage, identifying humanitarian needs and stepping up relief efforts.

Tulkarem, STATE OF PALESTINE -- After days of heavy snowfall and subsequent floodings across the State of Palestine, the West Bank was hit the hardest. In Tulkarem, Qalqiliya and Jenin governorates as many as 650 homes and damages to businesses, infrastructure and agricultural lands are estimated at millions of dollars.

“This is the worst natural disaster in living memory here in the West Bank," says WFP State of Palestine Country Director Pablo Recalde. "Hundreds of families have lost their homes, the winter crop was lost and farmlands, greenhouses and critical infrastructure damaged."

WFP is supporting the Ministry of Social Affairs and local authorities to provide food assistance to households in need, providing both direct food assistance and food vouchers to urban, rural and herder communities.

While herder communities are receiving direct food assistance, WFP is using vouchers to provide assistance to people living in villages and have access to local markets. Through the food security sector, WFP and FAO and NGOs will continue to work with the Palestinian Authority to provide support to affected communities and will scale-up ongoing work to ensure stronger disaster preparedness for future emergencies.

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